On 31 January 1887 from Kent Co., MI, Charles B. Whitney signed a Declaration for Service Pension, War of 1846 with Mexico. He is fifty-eight years old and a resident of Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan. He had enlisted as a private in the company commanded by A. H. Hanscomb in the 1st Regiment of Michigan Volunteers commanded by Col. Stockton in the 1846 war with Mexico. He enlisted in Nov 1847 for a term of three years or during the war, served about eight months, and was discharged at Detroit, MI, Jul 1848. He landed at Vera Cruz, and went from there to Cordova, where the regiment was stationed and employed in guarding supplies from Vera Cruz and forwarding same to the armies in the field. He did receive a land warrant, number unknown. His discharge papers were filed in the prosecution of his claim for the land warrant, and were never returned to him. His residence is 146 Canal Street, Grand Rapids. He was born at Ogden, Monroe Co., NY. He is 58 years of age; 5 feet 9 ½ inches in height; with a light complexion, gray eyes, brown hair, and is by occupation a laborer. Before his service he was a farmer. The declaration was witnessed by Ella P. Shuster and Adolph B. Mason.

Charles declares that he suffers from chronic catarrh for 25 years, which makes him partially deaf in his left ear. He also suffers attacks of chronic diarrhea about three times a year. He also suffers greatly from a rupture of the left groin. All of these disabilities render him unable to perform any manual labor whatever. He owns no real property or personal property of any kind except his wearing apparel. He is also disabled by long standing and very obstinate kidney disease.

Charles was awarded a pension of eight dollars per month, commencing 29 January 1887. It is noted on the Survivor's Brief that he served from 1 December 1847 to 24 July 1848. His Bounty Land Warrant number was 42413-160-47. On 19 July 1904 the Commissioner of Pensions was notified that Charles B. Whitney was last paid at twelve dollars per month to 4 June 1904, and has been dropped from the rolls due to his death on 13 July 1904.

Notes

I have yet to be able to identify his place in the family. I believe it is he in the 1850 census of Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan. Hannah Whitney, age 58, born in New York heads the household. The younger family members include Charles B., age 20 and born in New York; Roswell, age 18 and born in Michigan; and David, age 15 and born in Michigan. If this or anything else helps someone to identify Charles, I'm sure we would all be glad to know it.

Charles B. Whitney states that he was born about 1829, Ogden, Monroe Co., NY. In the 1830 census of Ogden, Monroe Co., NY, there are 3 Whitney families, headed by Daniel, Lucy, and Lyman. Only the Daniel Whitney family has a son under 5 years. It is possible that this was Charles B., but further research is needed to confirm or exclude this theory. This Daniel Whitney may have been the man of that name, son of Bezaleel and Lucy (Shays) Whitney who married Hannah Hilton and who later emigrated to Ingham Co., MI. He is found in 1850 in this county with another family and without his wife or any children. Could they have remained at home in Pontiac, MI, while he went further west for work?